On January 22, thousands of people from different parts of the country walked together on the streets of Kolkata under the banner of the ‘Anti-Fascist Grand Conference’, against the majoritarian and communal agenda of the current regime at the Centre.
More than 190 democratic, farmer, student, artist and activist groups joined the rally. The Wire talked to some of the people walking from Subodh Mallick square to the Netaji indoor stadium.
“The continuing communal bigotry should stop! People are tired of being fooled in the name of religion. We must ensure that there’s still hope in this country,” said 65-year-old Sheikh Lutfar Rahman who came from Uluberia only to walk in the rally and attend the public gathering at Netaji indoor stadium.
Nabam Yajik (38), a member of Hawker Sangram Committee who came all the way from Arunachal Pradesh, said, “Our prime minister is busy doing all the things he’s not supposed to do. He should think about peace in the Northeast, about employment and education.”
Paromita, a 22-year-old student at Calcutta University, said, “We’re frustrated with this fascist regime who doesn’t care about the students.” Speaking against the New Education Policy, they added, “The government wants to produce a generation of graduates who will only believe in their lies and myths sugarcoated as ‘history’. But we’ll fight in the most democratic way possible to defend our histories and our beloved Constitution.”
“What will you get from this hate and division?“ asks Chhou artist Kashinath Singh who came from Purulia to perform and walk in the rally. “We are performers, we go to many places to perform our dance and acts. We receive love and we give it back to people through our work. There’s no space for hate in our soul. We all should try to stop spreading it.”
An artist playing the accordion at the rally.
